This document discusses the realities of college preparedness and success. It notes that over 70% of high school graduates enroll in college within two years, but less than 50% complete a degree within six years. Academic, social/emotional, and financial preparedness are key to college completion. The document provides tips in each area of preparedness, such as taking rigorous high school courses, developing responsibility and problem-solving skills, and understanding financial aid options and debt thresholds. It emphasizes the importance of career exploration and gaining work experience to help choose a suitable college major and facilitate employment after graduation.

1. Barbara Cooke, M.A.
Career Counselor and Author
Parent’s Guide to College and Careers
How to Help, Not Hover (JIST 2010)
http://guidetocollegeandcareers.blogspot.com

2. Reality Check
 Over 70 % of high school graduates will
enroll in college within two years of high
school graduation
 Less than 50% will complete a Bachelor’s
degree or technical career program within
six years

3. Reality Check
 Only 60 % of students who start college at a
4-year school will complete a degree
 40 % of students will not
 The problem is more than choosing the
“wrong” college
 More students have the expectation of going
to college without the preparation to be
successful in college

4. Reality Check
 High school success does not equal
college readiness!
 Three kinds of preparedness
1. Academic preparedness
2. Social/Emotional preparedness
3. Financial preparedness

5. Academic Preparedness
 What are your child’s basic skills in
reading, writing, math, science?
 Take the ACT or Compass test
 Compare scores to ACT College Readiness
Benchmarks
 A standardized measure

6. ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
 ACT test scores needed for 50% chance of
earning a B or better or 75 % chance of
earning a C or better in college courses
traditionally taken in the first year of college
 College composition, college algebra, college
biology, and an introductory social science
course

7. Academic Preparedness
 College level classes vs. remedial classes
 Remedial (developmental) classes are one of
the fastest growing segments of higher
education
 Courses taken in college to bring
underprepared students to skill competency
of a college freshman
 Will cost you time and money

8. Academic Preparedness
 Time management in college
 Two hours of outside study for each one
credit hour in class
 15 college credits: 15 hrs. in class + 30 hrs. of
study = 45 hrs. per week needed for school
 Add a part-time job 20 hrs./week = 65 hrs.
 Homework/outside activities in HS

9. Academic Preparedness
 Writing skills
 In college, your child will expected to:
 Write numerous short and long papers in
all classes, not just English classes
 Read unfamiliar material, analyze it and
respond to it in writing
 Answer essay questions rather than
multiple choice questions

10. Academic Preparedness
 Math skills
 College algebra is the minimum degree
requirement
 Remedial/developmental math courses will
cost you time and money
 Insist on 4 years of college prep math in high
school

11. Social/Emotional Preparedness
 A more subjective assessment
 How mature is your child?
 The three “R’s”
 Responsibility
 Resilience
 Resourcefulness

12. Responsibility
 Turning in assignments on time
 Showing up for work and doing a good job
 Completing household chores
 Following household rules and curfews
 Managing money - checking accounts, debit
cards, saving for purchases

13. Resilience
 Taking criticism well
 Realistic expectations of self
 The ability to bounce back after setbacks
 Self-care:
 Eating right
 Exercise
 Getting enough rest

14. Resourcefulness
 Problem solving skills
 Connecting with other people to identify
resources
 Talking with instructors
 Creating and using a support system
 “Helicopter” parents: teach your child to
solve the problem, don’t solve it yourself!

15. Honor the “Red Flags”
 Address your concerns about study
skills, time management, and responsibility
while your child is in high school
 Work with your high school counselor to
develop an action plan to build skills junior
and senior year

16. Financial Preparedness
 How are you and your child going to pay for
college?
 U.S. student loan debt now exceeds credit
card debt – over $830 billion dollars!
 College debt is an issue for both of you
 Average student debt for graduates: $29,400
 Doesn’t include debt of students who leave
without a degree

17. Financial Preparedness
Four sources of money for college:
1. Grants and scholarships a student earns or
is awarded
2. College savings accounts
3. Monthly family income applied to tuition
and living expenses
4. Loans, both student and parent

18. Financial Preparedness
 Total Cost of College (COA)
(tuition, fees, room, board, transportation, misc. living
expenses)
 - Less “Gift Aid”
(scholarships and grants that do not have to be
repaid
 = Out of Pocket Cost of College
(pay with college savings, cash, and student/parent
loans)

19. Gift Aid
 Scholarships and grants you don’t have to
pay back
 Scholarships: awarded for merit
 Grants: awarded based on need
 Outside/institutional scholarships and
grants

20. Scholarships and Grants
 Federal aid: studentaid.ed.gov
 Your state Department of Higher Education
website– state grants, scholarships
 College websites
 automatic scholarships
 competitive scholarships
 On average, scholarships and grants cover
only 30% of the COA

21. Family Income Used for College
 Tuition payments by parents
 Student earnings from work-study and part-
time jobs
 Important: a work-study award is paid to
the student and covers indirect living costs
 It does not cover direct costs such as
tuition, fees, room and board

22. Student and Parent Loans
 More families are borrowing for college
 Both parents and students need to know
their “debt threshold”
 How much you can borrow and comfortably
repay the loan?
 How much is too much debt for college?

23. Parent Loans for College
 Parent guideline:
Your total household debt payments all
your debts -- including mortgage
payments, credit cards, car loans and
education loans -- shouldn't eat up more
than 35% of your gross pay

24. Parent Loans for College
 Family income:
 $100,000/year
 Total debt on mortgage, car
payments, credit cards, other debts:
 $25,000/year
 Maximum amount to add in loan payments:
 $10,000 /year

25. Student Loans for College
 8% rule
 Your child’s total student loan payments
should not exceed 8% of monthly gross
income after college
 For $30,000 student loan, payment will be
$345/month
 Salary needed: $52,000 /year

26. Student Loan Repayment
Total Student Loans
Annual Salary Needed
 $10,000
 $17,262/ year
 $15,000
 $25,893/year
 $20,000
 $34,524/year
 $25,000
 $43,155/year
 $30,000
 $51,786/year

27. Student Loans for College
 8% rule connects amount to borrow with
the student’s marketability after graduation
 Some majors command more money in the
job market than others
 $345/month loan payment will be the same
for an English major or engineering major

28. College Majors and Jobs
 Some majors develop specific job skills:
engineering, nursing, education etc.
 Most majors develop nonspecific, transferable skills:
English, psychology, communication
studies, biology etc.
 For most majors, work experience while in
college is the key to employment after
college

29. College Majors and Jobs
 Begin exploring careers in high school
 Career exploration vs. career decision-
making
 Understand how different majors play out in
the job market
 Separate choosing a major from choosing a
1st career
 Use career resources once you are on
campus

30. How to Insure Preparedness
 Take rigorous courses in high school
 Four years of college-prep math
 Writing-intensive courses: research papers
 Use AP and dual-credit wisely
 Explore careers in high school

31. Web Resources for Parents
http://guidetocollegeandcareers.blogspot.com
 Career information websites
 Parent’s Guide to College and Careers/ How to
Help, Not Hover (JIST 2010)
 Careers by college major websites
 Financial aid (FAFSA4caster)and scholarship links
 Links to 4-year college websites

32. Final Thoughts
 Affirm your child’s strengths
 Don’t be afraid to say “No”
 Teach networking
 Learn to let go

33. Barbara Cooke, M.A.
Career Counselor and Author
Parent’s Guide to College and Careers
How to Help, Not Hover (JIST 2010)
http://guidetocollegeandcareers.blogspot.com